Rubén Soto

Rubén Soto Gutiérrez was a Chilean teacher, journalist, poet, and Radical Party politician.
He served as Deputy for the 2nd Departmental Group from 15 May 1973 until the dissolution of Congress by the 1973 coup d’état. Previously, he was Councilman of Calama from 1956 to 1967.

Biography

He was born in Antofagasta on 12 October 1920, the son of Juan Soto Saavedra and Amelia Gutiérrez. Educated at the University of Atacama, he graduated as a teacher in 1941 and later became a certified journalist and gained recognition as a poet.
He served as a teacher in Tocopilla, the office salitrera Prosperidad, and Chuquicamata, and in 1968 was interim director of the Department of Education of El Loa. Concurrently, he worked for local political newspapers in Tocopilla and directed the journalism department of Calama's radio station.
A member of the Radical Party, he was Councilor of Calama from 1956 to 1967. In 1973 he was elected Deputy, joining the Permanent Committees on Public Education and Mining. His service ended due to the coup.
He was detained and went into clandestinity, later returning in 1987 to help reorganize local Radical Party structures and supporting the «No» campaign in the 1988 plebiscite. He continued writing for radio until the early 1990s.